South Sudan’s rival leaders to hold direct talks soon Reports from Juba say that South Sudan Pesident Kiir has agreed to meet face to face with former vice-president and rebel leader Riek Machar on Friday. Prime Minister Hailemariam, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the IGAD has notified the government of the meeting. The rebel mediation team in Addis Ababa confirmed they had received notification of the meeting. There has been no indication of the agenda for the talks which will be the first time the two men have met since conflict broke out in Juba on December 15 last year. US Secretary of State John Kerry during a visit to Juba last week said the two leaders should meet to reaffirm their commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement and discuss a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Secreatary Kerry, speaking later to reporters in Angola said that he expected the meeting between Kiir and Machar would take place as scheduled. In the meantime, fighting has continued despite the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. South Sudan Government forces said they had recaptured Unity state capital, Bentiu on Sunday; the rebels claimed to have recaptured it again on Monday. On Sunday, the Government also claimed to have recaptured Nasir, a rebel stronghold, and a rebel spokesperson confirmed that they had carried out a “tactical withdrawal” from the town. According to reports, the two sides have also agreed to consider a “month of tranquility starting Monday (May 5) to allow civilians caught up in the conflict to move to places of safety and plant crops. They apparently a commitment to open humanitarian corridors for aid to reach those threatened by famine.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 06:16:07 +0000
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